Hello, and welcome! This is 15 Words or Less Poems, a low-pressure way to wake up your poetry brain (guidelines here), and I’m very glad you’re here.
This is another pic from our Cyprus trip. Here’s a fountain by the ocean in Larnaca, in the touristy part of town.
This image makes me think of several things:
- a magic act (kind of looks like the sculpture is levitating)
- vertebrate creatures evolving in the ocesn
- roasting marshmallows
- portaging a canoe
And here’s my first draft. As I’m sitting here surrounded by boxes and crates and bubble-wrapped stuff, still moving in to our new place, writing this poem this morning at first seemed a chore. And then, a gift. It was lovely to think of campfires and cookouts along the North Shore of Minnesota. Maybe next summer :>)
It’s your turn! Have fun and stick to 15 WORDS OR LESS! (Title doesn’t count toward word count.)
39 Responses
One thing I love about your filtered images, Laura, is that our imaginations can go further since the picture looks a little less real. You’ve made me want a toasted marshmallow with your “flames.” Here’s a silly hay(na)ku:
answering sky pull
water flows
up
Love the whimsical twist to this!
If anyone wants to know more about six-word poetry, a delightfully simple form (great for teachers), here’s a link to my article:
http://galatearesurrects2018.blogspot.com/2018/03/featured-essay.html
Love this form.
Yes! That’s exactly why I do the filters! Thanks:>) Some days, the world feels gone crazy enough that maybe water will indeed flow upward…
Lauren, I was intrigued by possibly turning the water upside down. You put it into words. Great!
Oh, I love those “sweet, sticky stars” and I’m so glad that writing this today, in the midst of unpacking chaos, offered you a sweet reward. The fountain looked like flames to me as well. Here’s my take:
Inspiration
Fledgling dreams
flutter
in smoldering ashes
From flames
Phoenix
rises
soars
©M. Hogan, 2018
Love those first two lines. I want to wish them luck.
I like the ending…bringing an excitement to the poem.
Love how your title brings it all together. Should be a poster for writers and other dreamers!
Don’t know where my comment went — burned in the flames ???? I guess!
Try again -
I love how your title wraps it all up. It should be a poster for writers!
Molly, I love that you connect dreams to fledgling birds, since we always talk about dreams taking flight! Lovely!
Wonderful image to keep you through this coming winter, Laura. Love those “sweet, sticky stars”!
Geese Leaving Town
Forging south for winter
No turning back
No doubts
Winter licking at their heels
“Winter licking at their heels”–what a great line!
I am going to hang on to cool thoughts of winter on this hot day. Love the confidence of your middle two lines.
I agree, winter licking at their heels is perfect and so powerful!
Ooh, I love “Winter licking at their heels.” And the confidence of those geese! Lovely.
It’s approaching time for the geese to head south. The Floridians who grace us with their presence in the mountains over the summer will begin to head south before long.
commenting again.…third time’s the charm? Marshmallows are the perfect legend of summer. Aren’t they?
Spaces
Between rushing waters
sky scraping towers
communications
on little screens
we’ll meetin spaces
between
I like your spaces between, a calming ending following the “rushing” and “sky scraping” opening.
Linda I loved this, especially the last two lines!
HO– USEKEEPING TIP
A dragon who sleeps
on his back always keeps
his ceilings bare.
No cobwebs there!
Ha! Love this!
Oh, what a GREAT way of seeing that image. Love it!
Love the thought!
I absolutely love this!
Best to you Laura; in the end I have a feeling you will win the battle of the boxes. I always find lots of “surprises” when unpacking, even though I do the packing. Your photo prompts the extremes in weather conditions across the US.
Nature’s Balance
White,
oxygenated flames
stretch,
determined to
engulf
that which
rain
struggles to
protect.
You’ve made me think of the fires in California. If only we could send rain where needed.
Posting for Margaret, because my site and her computer were not cooperating this morning!
“Legend of summer”… perfect ending.
Fountain flames
my heart’s on fire
spine structure
hovers protection
balanced design
–Margaret Simon, all rights reserved
heart’s on fire.…great line!
Margaret, sometimes people think alike. I like your balance.
I love how your fountain has transformed into a magical campfire! Good luck with the unpacking and settling in.
August Night
wood crackles
sparks leap
embers glow
darkness creeps
stars flash
flicker streak
SO sensory, Buffy. Totally creates a magical mood!
Hi again Laura. I’m thinking my computer may not be making nice with yours. My comment posted even though I never received the confirm prompt. None of my comments to the other participants are posting. It’s strange that Margaret and I had similar thoughts and you ended up posting hers because of pc problems.. Life in “sigh“berspace. Thanks for listening.
Hi Martha–Every week, I have to approve all of your comments. I don’t know why, but WordPress doesn’t trust you (even though I do!). So if I happen to be online and checking comments, I approve them right away. Other times, it might be a few hours before I see them and approve them.
Thank you Laura. So sorry. I’ll try to do some research from my end that might provide a clue. I really appreciate your loyalty that makes my participation possible.
Don’t worry about it, Martha! I just wanted to let you know that our computer systems not playing nicely together is nothing new, and if your stuff doesn’t show up, it’s just because I haven’t approved it yet. That’s all–love having your participation!
poem By Jessica Bigi
The Greatest Expedition
Fountains steam rising
Off ground-rockets
Journeying to seek
Earth’s center
Laura I remember moving and that feeling that the boxes would never end. Your picture today is very cool. I totally saw a giant vertebrae on top of the fountain…maybe it’s the nurse in me.
Cetacean’s Story
Bones plunge,
Bones labor,
Bones perish,
These old bones remember…